ABOUT GALERIE XII
Galerie XII, founded by Valerie-Anne Giscard d’Estaing in 2007 in Paris focuses on contemporary photography.
The editorial line of the gallery centers on narrative photography and strives to promote artists with a strong pictorialist sensibility, working on new forms of the media with a multidisciplinary approach especially at the borders with painting, sculpture and collages.
Galerie XII Los Angeles opened in 2018 and is located at Bergamot Arts Center, Santa Monica. Since its opening, the gallery has received critical acclaim and consistently showcases several solo exhibitions a year while also participating in multiple internationally-renowned art fairs
ABOUT VALERIE-ANNE GISCARD D’ESTAING
Valerie-Anne, the daughter of former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, founded her first book publishing company, Compagnie12, in the 1980s.
Named after her lucky number, the company went on to edit and publish hundreds of illustrated books before expanding its scope to the management of photographers’ archives under the Photo12 brand. In what seemed like a natural evolution, Galerie Photo12 opened its doors in Paris in 2007 before moving to its current location in Le Marais in 2010.
Upon opening the LA location, Valerie-Anne decided to rebrand to Galerie XII in recognition of the evolution of contemporary photography, reflecting the role of the digital age in increasingly blurring the distinction between photography and other visual arts.
SERVICES
The works exhibited at the Gallery are original prints, editioned and signed by the Artist. We take great care of following up the works and editions and guarantee that the information provided is true and accurate. We provide certificates.
Framing / Shipping
There is no frame than can be used for all works. We do not offer standard framing. We do work with a number of framing companies and can offer advice on the frame that would best fit the print you wish to acquire. We can also follow up framing, upon approval of quotation.
Works can be delivered upon request. Shipping costs will be submitted for approval before shipping.
Taxes
Please bear in mind that most of the prints we offer are considered as Works of Art by Tax authorities. In most countries, acquisitions can be deducted from revenues.
We will provide the relevant information depending on your country upon request.
MORE ABOUT PRINTS
Over the past few years, photographs have entered museums and some prints have now reached considerable prices.
Nevertheless, contrarily to paintings, photographs are not unique since it is possible to make several prints from the same negative or the same image file. The price of a print will therefore be in function of the quality and the rarity of it. And of course, in function of the picture itself, what it represents. Here is some information about the prints we sell.
Original print It is a print made from the original negative by the photographer or under his supervision. These are prints that do have value on the market. Such prints are stamped and signed by the Photographer. In the case of limited editions, each print is numbered by the Photographer.
Limited edition The photographer commits himself not to make more prints than previously agreed. Prints are numbered. Near the end of a limited edition, the prints get rarer thus more expensive. The Photographer and the Galerie guarantee that no more prints will be made.
Artists prints Prints made by the artist, not numbered. The number of these prints is limited, usually to two. They are reserved for the Artist and his family or close friends. Once the edition is sold out, the Photographer may put his Artist Prints on the market.
Modern vs. Vintage prints A print is considered a "vintage print" typically when it has been made within the same year, or immediate era, of when the negative was made. A "modern print" or contemporary edition, or "later print", is a general term applied to prints that are made at a later time, sometimes decades, after the original negative was made, whether made by the artist or not. The difference of their value can vary case by case. The term vintage applies mostly for prints from 1920 to 1980.
Exhibition print The print was made for an exhibition.
Paper – process Each Photographer has his own views and practices in terms of prints. The technique used is specified below each image.
The most popular are:
Silver gelatin. This is the traditional way to print B&W photographs.
C-print (or chromogenic print) is made on negative-type color photographic paper.
Inkjet / Giclée / Digigraphie/ Archival pigment ink:
Those new printing techniques appeared in the 1990s. Most contemporary artists favor them. The technical quality of prints is excellent and duration has been certified by independent Labs.